SOCCER
China detains SK player
A South Korean citizen, whom Seoul identified as soccer player Son Jun-ho, has been detained by the Liaoning Province Public Security Department, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. Son, who was detained on Friday, is being held in police custody in northeast China in connection with a bribery case, a South Korean diplomatic source said on Monday. Son plays for the South Korean national team and Chinese Super League club Shandong Taishan, based in Shandong Province. The South Korean Ministry Of Foreign Affairs said its mission in China was providing necessary consular support to Son, but declined to comment further, citing privacy. A Korea Football Association official said it had reached out to Shandong Taishan, seeking an explanation, but has not heard back.
CYCLING
Thomas’ luck changes
Geraint Thomas said he is relishing the opportunity to win the Giro d’Italia after inheriting the leader’s maglia rosa jersey following Remco Evenepoel’s withdrawal. World champion Evenepoel abandoned the Giro with COVID-19 on Sunday, shortly after the Belgian reclaimed top spot in the general classification with victory in a rain-affected 35km individual time trial. Thomas has enjoyed little luck at the Giro, but the 36-year-old said he is keen to improve his results. The Welshman pulled out of the Giro in 2020 after suffering a hip fracture in a crash. Three years earlier his race came to an end after he damaged his shoulder in a pile-up involving a police motorbike. “It would be amazing to win, especially after 2020 when I thought that was it for my chance to win the Giro,” Thomas said. “I don’t feel much pressure or expectation, but I’d love to take this opportunity.” Monday was a rest day.
RUGBY LEAGUE
NZ aims to host World Cup
The New Zealand Rugby League yesterday said that it was in talks to jointly host the 2025 Rugby World Cup with Australia after France pulled out over financial concerns. The 17th staging of the World Cup for the 13-a-side code was scheduled for October to November 2025, but France on Monday said that a lack of funding meant hosting the tournament carried unacceptable financial risk. The game’s governing body, the International Rugby League, called the move “very disappointing.” New Zealand Rugby League CEO Greg Peters said they were interested in staging the event and have already discussed cohosting with Australia.
SOCCER
Women’s final sold out
The Women’s UEFA Champions League final next month is sold out for the first time in the competition’s recent history. UEFA yesterday said that no previous final had fully sold out since the 2009-2010 season, when its Women’s Cup was rebranded as the Women’s Champions League. More than 34,100 tickets have been issued for the match, which is to be played at the Philips Stadion in Eidhoven, Netherlands, on June 3, UEFA said. The final would beat the attendance record for a women’s soccer match in the Netherlands, previously set in 2019 when the Netherlands national team played Australia in front of 30,640 spectators at the same venue.
BACK-TO-BACK: The League One club, which is owned by stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is sparing no expense to clinch promotion to the Championship Hollywood endings are pricey, even in England’s third division. In pursuit of their third straight promotion, Wrexham AFC splashed some cash at League One rival Reading to secure the services of striker Sam Smith. The Welsh club owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney confirmed the signing of the 26-year-old Smith on Friday. He is one of the top scorers in the third division. The transfer fee was not disclosed, but British media widely reported it to be about ￡2 million (US$2.48 million) — not extravagant, but a hefty price at this level and it would be about the same figure that
Manchester City have reached do-or-die territory in the UEFA Champions League earlier than expected ahead of what Pep Guardiola has described as a “final” against Club Brugge today. City have disproved the suggestion a new format to Europe’s top club competition would remove any jeopardy for the top clubs as Guardiola stares down the barrel of failing to make the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in his career. The English champions have endured a torrid season both in their English Premier League title defense and on the continent. A run of one win in 13 games, which included Champions League
The Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets on Saturday did not disappoint in a thrilling midseason matchup in front of a fired-up sellout crowd of more than 18,500 fans. The top two teams in the NHL delivered with a combined nine goals, including the 877th of Alex Ovechkin’s career to put him 18 back of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record. That tied the score, the Jets pulled it out in overtime and just about everyone involved got their money’s worth out of the 5-4 game. “We knew how we were both sitting in the standings and both having real good years,” Winnipeg coach Scott
Less than a week after splashing out a world-record fee for Naomi Girma, Chelsea has spent big again to bring England midfielder Keira Walsh back to the English Women’s Super League. Walsh left European champions Barcelona after more than two years to join Chelsea for a reported ￡400,000 (US$496,000) on Friday. Walsh was the world’s most expensive player for two years after moving to Barcelona from Manchester City for a reported ￡400,000 in 2022. That status now belongs to Girma, the US defender who cost Chelsea a reported ￡900,000 to sign from the San Diego Wave. Still, it means 27-year-old Walsh — a technically
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